Almost three summers ago, we made the trek out to western Kansas to create some serious Kansas elopement inspiration! We leaned into boho celestial desert vibes that would be so fun for a real elopement adventure. Using earthenware, terracotta, natural textures, rattan, and dried palm spears, we brought in lots of gorgeous details while letting the natural landscape of the Monument Rocks do the majority of the talking!

The best part about all of this is that you could easily recreate it for your own just-the-two-of-you (and a photographer and officiant) elopement! Everything you’ll see in this post fits in the trunk of a Honda CRV, and the Monument Rocks in Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park in Oakley, Kansas are completely free to explore and usually pretty empty. Before we dive into the details, make sure you check out the vendors who brought it all together!

Planner: Radiantly Curated
Photographer: Courtney Mitchell
Dress: Joanna August, BHLDN
Tux: Generation Tux
Stationery: Planned and Planted
Hair & Makeup: Bespoke Salon Co

Even elopements deserve some stationery love! Emily from Planned and Planted (previously Emily Elle Designs) created a gorgeous invitation suite and vow books. Some of our favorite details are the terracotta watercolor lettering and star-studded vellum liner on the outer envelope and the rough edges of the invitation and ribbon. Of course, celestial details tied the whole set together! We also love having vow books custom-made for an elopement (or a regular wedding day). What a beautiful memento to bring home with you!

Our bride wore a champagne gown with a starry tulle overlay, and we accessorized it with celestial earrings and a simple gold star headband. Bespoke Salon gave her loose curls and a natural glam look with a deep rust palette. We created a simple DIY bouquet by layering dried palm leaves and baby’s breath, and everything came together beautifully!

Our groom looked dashing in a slate blue suit with a terracotta tie and pocket square!

We found shelter from the wind in a nook in the rocks to set up a lush tablescape for two. Then we created the basic design with a rattan headboard, an outdoor rug, a large hammered brass planter, and a piece of stained plywood.

We used plenty of rattan elements, terracotta vases and planters, and candles to make the overall design look full and inviting.

We loved this simple snack display for the bride and groom to snack on! Terracotta planter bases were used as chargers and plenty of found details to create a one-of-a-kind look. A big bonus of planning an elopement or intimate wedding is that you’re not restricted to design elements that you can only find in large quantities! Decorating for 2-20 people gives you much more freedom to get creative while still being practical.

These photos with the tablescape turned out to be so romantic!

Our ceremony setup couldn’t have been simpler! If nature can be your backdrop, don’t distract the eye with unnecessary details. We used the same outdoor rug as an altar and placed a few tablescape details at the front to create a ceremony moment, but you don’t need one here at all!

Just look at that massive rock wall! Being out here was so awe-inspiring. Also, it wouldn’t be a true Kansas elopement without some (or a lot of) wind, right? We didn’t mind though… the gusts created lots of beautiful movement!

Just because you’re eloping doesn’t mean you can’t weave intention and meaning into your day. In fact, an elopement may even give you more opportunities to do so in ways that you might not consider when you have a lot of people around! You can craft a beautiful ceremony incorporating long-standing or new traditions and share personal vows with each other.

Our photographer, Courtney Mitchell, certainly knows how to use light and natural landscape features to create beautifully composed shots!

If you’re planning to elope in Kansas, we can’t recommend this site enough. The Monument Rocks specifically and the general Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park area are absolutely breathtaking, and it’s only a 4-hour drive from Wichita. Take a page from our book and weave in some celestial boho details, or use your own inspiration! Tying the knot here would be an unforgettable experience.

XOXO,

The Radiantly Curated team